Mail-exchange system.



E. G. RANKIN.

MAIL EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1911 1,034,648. Patented Aug. 6,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIlIIIlIIIIIl "IIIlIIIl-I-I-IIIIII-I-I I. i IIIEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II i II I I l I I I II coLuMBlA PLANOCIRAPH CO.,WASHINOTON. n. c.

ERNEST RANKIN, OF FRANKLIN, NORTH CAROLINA.

MAIL-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application filed. August 17, 1911. Serial No. 644,511.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST C. RANKIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Franklin, in the county of Macon and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates generally to a construction whereby mail may be delivered from a moving train and other mail taken up by the train.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved construction whereby mail may be taken up by a moving train from a post beside the track, other mail carried by the train being deposited on this post, the arrangement being such that the exchange is effected without attention on the part of anybody on the train or beside the track.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction of mail exchange system which is automatic in operation, the construction and arrangement being such that the different parts thereof are well adapted to perform the functions intended in a manner resulting in .an improvement in this art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description thereof proceeds, the new and useful results obtained being included within the structure, and the equivalents thereof, defined in the appended claims.

Generally speaking the construction involves a post having movable means thereon for holding a mail bag, the post being positioned beside a track on either side thereof; a pivoted rail, or a plurality of them, are pivotally mounted between the rails of the track, either rail being in operative relation with the aforesaid bag carrying means and adapted to operate it. The above parts are located at desirable points along the track being adapted to cooperate with the means carried by any number of trains, running in 1 either direction. The construction carried by each train, or car in such train, comprises a movable member having means for'hold ing a mail bag in position, and other means adapted to cooperate with the aforesaid pivoted rails in order to swing the mail bag on the post closely adjacent the car, the exchange being effected at the proper moment. The bag carrying means on the car is designed to hold the bag adjacent the car, thereby making it more safe and convenient to fix the bag in position, the bag being moved away from the car when the ex change is to be made; the means or elements 011 the car which actuate the pivoted rail to swing the bag beside the track also actuate the bag carrying means on the car, through the medium of another rail, also positioned between the rails of the track, and adjacent one end of the pivoted rail.

After the exchange has been made the bag beside the track is moved to its initial position and the bag on the car is brought adjacent the side thereof and in position for convenient removal. Such movement of the bag on the car is efiected by the engagement of the actuating means thereon with another rail also positioned between the rails of the track; in the case of a single track road the pivoted rail is adapted to serve a double function, there being a plurality of them, depending on which direction the train is moving. The construction and arrangement is such that either bag carrying means may be brought to inoperative position when it is desired.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a plan view of the track showing the bag carrying post and the rails between the rails of the track Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same track showing the position of the pivoted rail when the bag is about to be taken up from the post beside the track by the train; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the track showing part of the car in section and also showing the,

different positions of the parts in dotted lines; Fig. d is a sectional view of the car and the bag-supporting post beside the track, the parts being shown in the position when the exchange is about to be effected; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the means for operating the arms carried by the car adjacent the door.

I have shown the device in connection with a single track and have described the operation thereof when thus applied; it is obvious however that the invention may be applied to double track roads or to roads which comprise any number of tracks.

The bag-supporting post beside the track comprises a rigid supporting member 17 having a bearing 16 extending therevided for the rod 13 which bearing is car-,

ried by the enlarged end of the post in the ground.

Pivotally secured at 60 and 60 bet-ween the rails 1 and 2 of the track are two rails 3 and 3. These rails are free to move about the pivots 60 and 60 and the free end of one of the rails is shown (Fig. 2) attached to a bar 22 which extends transversely of the track through a suitable passage 23 and enters the recess 20 in the bottom of the post 17, where it is pivotally attached to the arm 19 carried by the rod 13. It is evident that movement of the pivoted rail 3 will turn the rod 13 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2.

From the pivots 60 and 60 other rails 94, .95 extend in opposite directions. Each of these rails 94 and 95 has a limited movement in what may be termed a shoe 61, 61; the rails are, however, maintained in contact with each respective shoe by the springs 62, 62 which extend between each of these rails and the road-bed.

Each of the rails, 3, 3, and 94, 95, is higher than the rails, 1, 2, of the track; the reason for this being that the contact mem her which extends from the car truck and which comes into engagement with the side portions of the pivoted rails cannot extend beneath the car for any distance which would allow it to engage with the rails of 'the track at turn-outs, cross-overs, etc.

The arms 14 and 15 of the rod 13 are provided with hooks 25 and 26 which support a mail-bag 10 extended between them. The free ends of the arms are made of resilient material which are formed into spirals, such being shown at 73, 74. The purpose of these spirals or hooks is to grasp the central portion of the mail-bag carried by the car when the exchange is effected and hold the bag securely.

Secured to the frame of the car-truck is a rigid support 4 which carries a bearing block 41 provided with a slot 42. Sliding back and forth in the slot is a rack 43 provided adjacent opposite ends with the teeth 44 and 45.

Carried by the rack 43 is a transverse arm 48 provided with an opening 49 at its upper end. This arm is provided with a contacting member embodying an enlarged head 46 at its lower end which, in the operation of the parts, bears against one side of the pivoted rails 94, 60 or 95, 60. The arm is shown particularly in Fig. 5 and a spiral spring 47 carried by the arm maintains it in lower position. The arm may be raised from such normal position when desired by means of thelink 52 (Fig. 4) which extends upwardly therefrom and into the interior of the car; any suitable handle and securing means may be employed at the inner end of this link to lift the head and hold it in such position, the preferred form being a handle 54 pivotally secured at 56 and looking or securing means 55.

The operating means for the arms (to be presently described) which are carried by the car comprise a shaft 38 which is secured in suitable bearings 99 carried by the floor of the car and another bearing 81 in a frame made up of the parts 51, 80, and 50 carried by the car and extending downwardly therefrom. Secured to the lower end of the shaft 38 is a segmental gear 39 which is intended to engage the rack-teeth 44. The upper end of this shaft is provided with an arm 31 which is operatively connected with the mail-bag carrying means or arms on one side of the car.

A second shaft, in the form of a cylinder, is carried by the shaft 38, being designated as 37 in Fig. 5. The lower end of this cylindrical shaft is provided with a segmental gear 40 which engages with the rack-teeth 45 in the operation of the device the relative position of these gears being shown in Fig. 5. The upper end of this cylindrical shaft carries an arm 30 which is operatively connected with the mail-bag carrying arms on the opposite side of the car from those in operative relation with the shaft 38.

On each side of the car, and adjacent the doors thereof, are the rotatable bars 27 28, mounted in suitable supports 6, 7 so as to be capable of turning. The lower end of the bar 27 is provided with a short arm 28, which is pivotally engaged with a link 29, the other end of this link being in pivotal engagement with the arm 30 carried by the shaft 37 and operated thereby. The bar, 28, at the opposite side of the car is provided at its lower end with a short arm, 33, which is in pivotal engagement with the link, 32, the other end of which is connected to the arm, 31, carried by the shaft, 38, and operated thereby.

Each of the bars, 27, 28, is provided with a plurality of transversely extending arms adapted to carry a mail bag between them; the bar, 27, (Fig. 4) is shown provided with the arms, 8, 9, the outer end of the arm, 8, being provided with a spiral hook, 72; it is obvious that each of these arms may be provided with such a hook, and that each of them may have a plurality of hooks, disposed on opposite sides thereof after the manner of the arms on the rod, 13, beside the track; in order to adapt the construction to different circumstances each of the arms, whether on the car or beside the track, will be provided with a plurality of such hooks, thereby making the parts of standard construction and fitted to different localities.

From Fig. et it will be seen that the arrangement of the arms which support the mail-bags is such that the upper arm carried by the bar on the car is in line with the central portion of the bag as it is held suspended between the arms on the post; the lower arm on the post is also in line with the central portion of the bag which is held between the arms on the car. This particular arrangement of the arms with respect to each other is not essential, inasmuch as the lower arm on the car may be positioned intermediate of the arms on the post and thereby adapting this lower arm to receive the bag held by the post; it is to provide for such operation that I believe it advisable to provide'each of the arms on the car with a plurality of hooks as previously mentioned.

The operation of my construction is as follows: The mail-bag 10 is fixed in position between the arms 14 and 15 extending from the post beside the track, the post being preferably in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the arms thereon parallel with the track. The bag carried by the car is fixed in position between the arms 8 and 9, these arms being in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, closely adjacent the side of the car. The pivoted rails 3, 8, are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and a train is approaching the post 17 from the left. It is to be noted that the position of these pivoted rails is not determined by the direction in which the train is proceeding, the initial position being the same in either case; the bar, 22, which extends between the rod, 13, on the post, and one of the pivoted rails, however, is in this instance in engagement with the rail, 3; the rail, 3, remains in the position shown in Fig. 1 before, during and after the exchange. The rack 43 carried by the car-truck is in the neutral position shown in Fig. 5, that is, the links 29 and 32 are in position to keep the bagcarrying arms on the sides of the car closely adjacent the car. The transverse arm 48 with the head 46 carried underneath the car is in the position shown in Fig. 5. As the car approaches from the left the head 16 will pass between the sides of the shoe 61 and will come into contact with the side of the rail 94, but movement of this rail being prevented by the shoe 61, the pressure of the rail will force the head 46 and with it the transverse arm 48 toward the left side of the track; as the arm 48 moves in this direction the rack-teeth 15 which are operatively connected thereto will come into engagement with the segmental gear 40 and a the shaft 37 will turn on its bearings 81 and 99; as this shaft turns the link 29 will move the bar 27 in its bearings and the bag 11 will be swung outwardly from the car until it is transverse thereto as shown in Fig. 4-. The length of the rail 94 (Fig. 1) is such that by the time the head 46 reaches the point 60 the bag is in position remote from the side of the car. As the head portion passes the point of pivotal support of the pivoted rail 3 it will exert a pressure on the side of this rail and will move it from the oblique position shown in Fig. 1 into the approximately parallel position shown in Fig. 2;. the end of this pivoted rail 3 being connected at its free end with the bar 22 which is in turn connected with the rod 13 carrying the mail-bag 10, movement of the rail 3 will bring the rod 13 and the arms 1 1 and 15 from their position parallel with the track (Fig. 1) into a position transverse to the track (Fig. 2). The positions of the different arms carrying the two mail-bags is now as shown in Fig. 3. As the train proceeds to the right the mail-bag 11 carried by the car will strike the arm 14 of the post and the bag will be pulled from its support on the car and will be firmly held in the resilient hook on the end of the arm 14. At the same time the upper arm 9 carried by the car will come into contact with the middle portion of the bag 10 carried by the post and the resilient hook 72 on the end of this arm will. pull the bag from the post and securely hold it. As the car proceeds farther to the right the head 46 will come into contact with the side of the rail 95 at a point between the free end thereof and the point of pivotal support 60; the pressure of this rail on the head will cause it to move back toward its normal posit-ion, and when it has reached the shoe 61 it is in such position as shown in Fig. 5. While the head is moving back into its normal position the arms 8 and 9 on the side of the car, together with the bag which was taken up from the post, will be moved back adjacent the side of the car because of the operative connections between these arms and the head; the rail 95 with which the head was in engagement is capable of slight travel in the shoe 61 and after the head comes into engagement with this rail the rail will be moved in the shoe since the head is exerting pressure thereagainst. After the head passes through the shoe 61 the parts will be in the position they were in before the exchange took place. may be removed from the arm 9 and if desired another may be fixed in position between the arms ready for the next exchange.

By mounting the rails, 94, 95, in the shoes, 61, 61, under the influence of the springs, 62, 62, a resilient construction is afforded and one which is not easily de- The bag position parallel to the track by reason of the impact of the bag formerly carried by the car thereagainst. This bag may be removed and another placed in position, the position of the arms being determined with reference to the direction in which the next train will approach the post.

If the next train with which an exchange is to be made comes in an opposite direction the pivoted rails, 3, 3, occupy the position shown in Fig. 1; the bar, 22, is brought into engagement with the rail, 3, and the arms on the post with the bag in position thereon extend in a diametrically opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 1. In this instance the rail, 3, will be moved toward the middle of the track by engagement with the head, 46, and the bag at the side of the car will be moved remote therefrom by the engagement of the head with the rail, 90; the actuating means and the bag carrying means on the car will be returned to normal position by the engagement of the head with the rail, 94-. If the car has been turned at the end of the run the opposite side thereof will be adjacent the post when the exchange is made, and the shaft, 38, and the rack teeth, 14, cooperating with the segmental gear, 39, will take part in the operation of exchanging the bags.

It is to be noted from Fig. 5 that the positions of the gears, 39, a0, and the rack teeth, L4, 45, are such that in any exchange only one gear and one set of rack teeth are in engagement. If it should be desirable to render the construction inoperative at any time, as when no exchange is to be made when passing certain stations, the head, e6, may be elevated by means of the openin 49, in the upper end of the transverse arm, 48, the parts being held in position by any suitable means such as the handle, 54:, and the locking means, 55, illustrated in Fig. 5.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be apparent that I have provided a construction especially adapted to perform the functions set forth at the beginning of this specification. The operation of the exchange is carried out without danger to the mail bags, either during the actual exchange or thereafter as by being thrown under the train. The construction shown is the prediiferent ferred form and is capable ofmany minor modifications and changes in the adaptation thereof to different forms of track and roadbed as well as cars; the spirit of my invention, or the inventive idea involved, will be fulfilled by a mail exchange system substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Vhat I claim as my invention is 1. A mail exchange system comprising a post adapted to support a bag, a car provided with movable members adapted to carry a mail bag, a rail intermediate the rails of the track, and means carried by the car and cooperating with the said rail whereby the bag carrying members are moved, one of the members in its removed position being adapted to engage and carry the bag supported by the post.

2. A mail exchange system comprising a post adapted to support a bag, a car provided with movable members adapted to carry a mail bag, a rail intermediate the rails of the track, and means carried by the car in operative relation with the said movable members, whereby the engagement of the said means with the said rail will move the said members away from the car, one of the members being adapted to engage and carry the bag supported by the post. 3. A mail exchange system comprising a post adapted to support a mail bag, means on the post for engagement with a bag carried by a car for holding the same, a car having movable members thereon for holding a mail bag, a rail adjacent the rails of the track, means carried by the car and adapted to be actuated by engagement with the said rail, whereby the said members will be moved away from the car, one of the members engaging and holding the bag carried by the post, the means on the post engaging and supporting the bag carried by the said members.

4. A mail exchange system comprising a post adapted to support a mail bag, means carried by the post for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a rail, movable members carried by a car and adapted to carry a mail bag, means on the members for engaging and carrying a bag supported on the post, together with means actuated by the said rail for moving the said members whereby the bag carried by the members is engaged by the means on the post and the bag on the post is engaged by the means on the said members thereby effecting an exchange.

5. A mail exchange system comprising a post adapted to support a mail bag, means on the post for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, movable means carried by a car adapted to carry a mail bag, the said movable means being provided with elements for engaging and carrying a bag supported by the post, a rail adjacent the post, and means carried by the car in operative relation with the said bag carrying means and adapted for engagement with the said rail whereby the bag on the car is brought adjacent the post when the car passes, the said means on the post engaging the bag on the car and the said elements on the car engaging the bag on the post whereby an exchange is effected.

6. A mail exchange system comprising a suitable structure adapted to support a mail bag, means carried by the structure adapted to engage and hold a bag carried by a pass ing car, movable members on a car adapted to carry a mail bag, the members being provided with means for engaging and carrying a bag supported by the said structure, a rail adjacent the said structure, means carried by the car for engagement with the rail, other means in operative relation with the said means and the said movable members, whereby the members with the bag thereon are moved adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging and holding the bag on the car and the means on the said members engaging and holding the bag on the structure whereby when the car passes the structure an exchange is effected.

7. A mail exchange system comprising a structure adjacent a track adapted to support a mail bag, means on the structure for engagement with a bag on a passing car in order to hold the same, movable memberson a passing car adapted to carry a mail bag,

means on the members for engagement with the bag supported by the post in order to hold the same, a rail adjacent the said structure, a movable member carried by the car and adapted to engage the rail, means in engagement with the said member and also engaging the movable bag carrying members, whereby the bag carrying memhere are moved adjacent the structure when the car passes, the means on the said structure engaging the bag carried by the car and the means on the bag carrying members engaging the bag carried by the structure whereby the bags are exchanged.

8. A mail exchange system comprislng a structure adjacent a track adapted to support a bag, means on the structure for engagement with a bag on a passing car, movable arms on a passing car and adapted to carry a bag, means on the arms for engagement with abag supported by the said structure, a rail adjacent the structure, a head slidably mounted on the car and adapted for engagement with the said rail, a link engaging the said movable members, and means actuated by the head and in engagement with the link whereby the bag on the car is moved adjacent the structure when the car passes, the bag on the car being engaged by the said means on the structure and the bag on the structure belng engaged by the means on the arms whereby the bags are exchanged.

9. Amail exchange system comprising a structure adjacent a track adapted to support a bag, means on the structure for engagement with a bag carried by a passing car, a rotatable bar carried by a car, arms on the bar, the said arms carrying a bag, the arms being provided with means for engaging a bag supported by the said structure, a rail adjacent the said structure, a head slidably mounted on the car and adapted for engagement with the said rail, a movable shaft, connecting means between the shaft and the said bar, and means actuated by'the head in its travel, whereby the arms with the bag thereon are brought adj acent the structure when the car passes, the means on the structure engaging the bag carried by the arms and the means on the arms engaging the bag supported by the structure whereby the bags are exchanged.

10. A mail exchange system comprising a structure adjacent a track adapted to support a mail bag, means on the structure for engagement with a bag carried by a passing car, a rotatable bar carried by a car, arms on the bar, hooks on the arms for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engagement with the bag supported by the structure, a rack slidably mounted on the car, a head engaging the rack and adapted to engage the said rail, a gear carried by the car, and adapted to be actuated by the said rack, a shaft in engagement with the gear, and a link connecting the said bar and the shaft, whereby when the head moves the arms with the bag thereon are brought adjacent the said structure, the means on the arms engaging the bag on the structure and the means on the structure engaging the bag carried by the arms whereby the bags are ex changed.

a 11. A mail exchange system comprising a structure adjacent a track adapted to support a mail bag, means on the structure for engagement with a bag carried by a passing car, a rail adjacent the structure, a vertically extending rotatable bar carried by a car, arms on the bar, hooks on the arms for carrying a mail bag, resilient spirals 011 the arms for engagement with the bag supported by the said structure, a bearing block carried by the car, a rack slidably carried in the block, a head carried by the rack and adapted for engagement with the said rail, a shaft, a gear On the shaft adapted to be engaged by the said rack, an arm carried by the shaft. a link, the link engaging the said arm and the rotatable bar, whereby when the head moves by engagement with the said rail the arms with the bag thereon will be brought adjacent the said structure, one of the spirals on the arms engaging the bag on the structure and the means on the structure engaging the bag carried by the arms whereby an exchange is effected.

12. A mail exchange system comprising a structure adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, the said structure supporting a. mail bag, means carried by the structure for engagement with a bag carried by a passing car, movable members on each side of a car, the members on either side being adapted to carry a mail bag, means on each of the said members for engagement with a bag supported by the said structure, a rail adjacent the said structure, a movable member carried by the car and operatively connected with the members on each side of the car, the

said member being adapted for engagement with the said rail whereby the members on one side of the car may be moved adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging and holding the bag on the said movable members and the means on the said members engaging and holding the bag on the structure thereby effecting an exchange.

13. A mail exchange system comprising a suitable structure adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for supporting a mail bag, other means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, movable members on each side of a car, means on the members for carrying mail bags, other means on the members for engagement with a bag supported by the said structure, a movable member carried by the car and in operative relation with the members 011 each side of the car, movement of the said member in one direction moving the members on one side of the car and movement in another direction moving the members on the other side of the car, the said movable member adapted to en gage the said rail whereby the bag carried by the car is brought adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging the bag carried by the car and the means on the said movable members engaging the bag supported by the said structure whereby an exchange is effected.

14.. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for supporting a mail bag and at apted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for engaging a bag carried by a passing car, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, movable arms on each side of a car for carrying mail bags, means on the arms for engaging a bag supported by the said structure, a movable head carried by the car, the head being adapted to travel in two directions, means actuated by the travel of the head and connected to the arms on one side of the car for moving them, other means also actuated by the travel of the head and connected to the arms on the other side of the car, travel of the head in one direction actuating one of the means and travel of the head in the other direction actuating the other means, the head being adapted to engage the said rail thereby effecting the said movement, the bag on the moving arms being engaged by the said means on the structure, the bag on the structure being engaged by the means on the arms whereby an exchange is effected.

15. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for supporting a mail bag and adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for engaging a bag on a passing car, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, movable members on each side of a car for holding mail bags, means on the said members for engagement with a bag supported by the said structure, a head normally positioned intermediate the rails of the track and adapted to move to either side of said position, means actuated by the head and connected to the movable members on one side of the car for moving them when the head moves in one direction, other means also actuated by the head and connected to the movable members on the other side of the car for moving them when the head moves in the other direction, whereby when the head engages the said angularly extending rail the bag carried by the car will be moved adjacent the structure and into engagement with the said means carried thereby, the bag on the structure being engaged by the means on the movable members whereby an exchange is effected.

16.-A mail exchange system comprising a structure for supporting a mail bag and adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag on a passing car, a rail adjacent the said structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, movable arms on each side of a car for holding mail bags, means on the arms for engaging and carrying a bag carried by the said structure, a movable head carried by the car and adapted to be moved in opposite directions, the head being adapted for engagement with the said rail and the direction of travel of the head depending on the direction in which the said rail extends, a plurality of shafts carried by the car, one of the shafts being connected to the arms on one side of the car for moving them, the other shaft being connected to the arms on the other side of the car for moving them, together with means carried by the shafts and adapted to be actuated by the travel of the said head whereby the arms on one side of the car together with the bag carried thereby will be moved adjacent the said structure, the means on the arms engaging the bag on the structure and the means on the structure engaging the bag on the arms whereby an exchange is effected.

17. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for supporting a mail bag and adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a rail adjacent the said structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, a plurality of arms on each side of a car for holding mail bags, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag supported by the said structure, a bearing block on the car, a head slidably mounted in the block, the head being adapted for engagement with the said rail and movable in either direction depending on the direction in which the said rail extends, a plurality of shafts carried by the car, one of the shafts being connected to the arms on one side of the car and the other shaft being connected to the arms on the other side of the car, movement of the head in one direction moving one of the shafts and movement in the opposite direction moving the other shaft, a movable member in engagement with the head, means on each shaft adapted for engagement with the said member, whereby when the head is moved the arms on one side of the car will be moved adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging the bag on the arms and the means on the arms engaging the bag on the said structure thereby eflecting an exchange.

18. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for supporting a mail bag and adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, a plurality of movable arms on each side of a car for holding mail bags, resilient spirals on the arm for engaging and holding a bag supported by the said structure, a bearing block carried by a car, a plurality of racks slidably supported in the block, a head in engagement with the racks for moving them, the head being adapted for engagement with the said rail, the direction in which the said head will travel depending upon the direction in which the rail extends, a plurality of shafts carried by the car, a link between one shaft and the arms on one side of the car, a link between the other shaft and the arms on the other side of the car, a segmental gear carried by each shaft, one of the gears and one of the racks being adapted for engagement as the head moves in either direction, whereby movement of the head will move the arms on either side of the car and bring the bag thereon adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging the said bag carried by the "arms and the spirals on the arms engaging the bag on the structure thereby effecting an exchange.

19. A mail exchange system comprising a structure adapted to support a mail bag and adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, movable arms on each side of a car for supporting mail bags, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag supported by the said structure, a slidable rack on the car, teeth adjacent one end of the rack, teeth adjacent the other end of the rack, a

plurality of shafts, means on one shaft adapted to engage the teeth adjacent one end of the rack, means on the other shaft adapted to engage the teeth adjacent the other end of the rack, the said means being normally out of engagement with the rack teeth, movable members connected to each shaft for actuating the arms at either side of the car, together with means carried by the car and in engagement with the said rack and adapted to engage the said rail whereby either set of rack teeth are brought into engagement with the coacting means on one of the shafts, the arms at one side of the car being thereby brought adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging the bag on the arms and the means on the arms engaging the bag on the structure whereby an exchange is effected.

20. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for holding a mail bag and adapted to be positioned on either side of a track, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, a plurality of movable arms on each side of a car for carrying mail bags, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag carried by the said structure, a movable rack on the car, separate series of rack teeth thereon, a plurality of shafts on the car, means between each shaft and the arms on the sides of the car for moving them, a segmental gear carried by each shaft, one of the gears and one of the series of rack teeth being coacting as the rack is moved in one direction, a head in engagement with the rack and adapted for engagement with the said rail, the direction in which the head moves being determined by the direction in which the said rail extends, whereby when the rack is moved in one direction one gear will be actuated by one series of rack teeth, and when moved in another direction the other gear will be actuated by the other rack, the arms on one side of the car being thereby brought adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging the bag on the arms, and the means on the arms engaging the bag on the structure in order to effect an exchange.

21. A mail exchange system comprisinga structure for holding a mail bag beside a track, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, means on the said structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, movable arms carried by a car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and carrying a bag held by the said structure, a head carried by the car and slidably mounted in position, the head being adapted for engagement with the said rail, a shaft, means engaging the shaft and connected to the arms for moving them, together with cooperating parts in engagement with the shaft and the head, whereby as the head moves the arms with the bag thereon are brought adjacent the said structure, the means on the structure engaging the bag on the arms and the means on the arms engaging the bag supported by the structure whereby an exchange is effected.

22. A mail exchange system comprising a post having swinging arms thereon and adapted to hold a mail-bag, an angularly extending pivoted rail between the rails of the track having connection with the movable arms and means on a passing car for engaging thev pivoted rail and moving it whereby the arms will swing.

23. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned beside a track, means on the structure for holding a mail bag, an angularly extending pivoted rail adjacent the structure and intermediate the rails of the track, and connected to the bag-holding means, together with means on a passing car for engagement with the pivoted rail and moving it whereby the bag holding means is swung.

24. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned beside a track, arms on the structure for holding a mail bag, a pivoted rail between the rails of the track, means between one end of the rail and the said arms and connecting the parts, together with means on a passing car for engaging and moving the rail whereby the arms with the bag thereon are swung.

25. A mail exchange system comprisinga structure positioned beside a track, arms on the structure for holding a mail bag, a rod carried by the structure and in engagement with the arms, a pivoted rail adjacent the structure and between the rails of the track, a bar connected to the rod and the rail, together with means on a passing car for engaging and moving the rail whereby the arms with the bag thereon are swung.

26. A mail exchange system comprisinga structure positioned adjacent a track, a rod carried by the structure, arms on the rod for holding a mail bag, a bar, an arm on the rod and in engagement with the bar, a pivoted rail between the rails of the track, one end of the rail being in engagement with the said bar, together with means on a passing car for engaging the rail and moving the same whereby the arms with the bag thereon are swung.

27. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned adjacent a track, a bearing carried by the structure, a rod within the bearing, arms on the rod for holding a mail bag, a bar, an arm on the rod in engagement with the bar, a pivoted rail between the, rails of the track and adjacent the structure, one end of the rail being in engagement with the bar, together with means on a passing car for engagement with the rail in order to move the same, the arms with the bag thereon being thereby swung.

28. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned beside a track, movable arms on the structure for holding a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a pivoted rail for moving the arms with the bag thereon, a rail adjacent the said structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, movable arms on a passing car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and carrying a bag carried by the said structure, together with a movable member carried by the car and in engagement with the bag carrying arms thereon, the said member being adapted for engagement with the angularly extending rail whereby the arms on the car are swung, the said member being also adapted for engagement with the pivoted rail whereby the arms on the structure are swung, the means on the arms of the structure engaging the bag carried by the car and the means on the arms carried by the car engaging the bag on the structure whereby an exchange is effected.

29. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned beside a track, movable arms on the structure having means for holding a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging a bag carried by a passing car, a pivoted rail for moving the bag holding arms, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, movable arms on a passing car, means on the arms for carrying a mail bag, other means on the arms for engaging a bag held by the said structure, a movable member on the car, a shaft having means thereon in en gagement with the said movable member,

means between the shaft and the bag carrying arms for moving them, the said member being adapted for engagement with the angularly extending rail whereby the arms on the car are swung, the said member being also adapted for engagement with the pivoted rail whereby the arms on the structure are swung, the means on the .arms carried by the car engaging and holding the bag held by the said structure and the means on the arms on the structure engaging and holding the bag carired by the car whereby an exchange is eifected.

30. A mail exchange system comprising .a structure positioned beside a track, movable arms on the structure for holding a mail bag, the arms being provided with means for engaging and holding. a bag carried by a passing car, a pivoted rail for moving the said arms, a rail extending angularly with respect to the track, movable arms on a passing car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and carrying a bag held by the structure, a member slidably mounted on the car, a head in engagement with the said slidable member, a shaft, means on the shaft for engagement wit-h the slidable member, means between the shaft and the bag carrying arms for moving them, the head being adapted for engagement with the angularly extending rail whereby the arms on the car are swung, the head being also adapted for engagement with the pivoted rail in order to move the arms on the structure, the means on the arms of the car engaging the bag held by the structure and the means on the arms of the structure engaging the bag carried by the car, whereby the bags are exchanged.

31. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned adjacent a track and adapted to hold a mail bag, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, movable arms on a car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag held by the said structure. a rail extending angularly with respect to the track, means on the car for moving the bag carrying arms, other means for engagement with the said rail and connected to the means for moving the arms for operating the same, whereby when the said means engages the said rail the arms on the car are swung, the means on the arms engaging and holding the bag held by the structure, the means on the structure engaging and holding the bag carried by the arms, the bags being thereby exchanged, together with other means for moving the bag carrying arms after the exchange has been effected.

32. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for holding a mail bag and positioned adjacent a track, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, movable arms on a car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag held by the said structure, a rail extending angularly with respect to the track, means on the car for moving the bag carrying arms, a head carried by the car, the head being in operative relation with the arm moving means, the head being adapted to engage the said rail whereby the arms with the bag thereon are swung adjacent the said structure when passing the same, the means on the arms engaging the bag held by the structure and carrying the same, the means on the structure engaging the bag carried by the car and holding the same whereby the bags are exchanged, together with other means for engagement with the said head whereby the bag carrying arms on tne car are brought back to normal position after the exchange is effected.

33. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for holding a mail bag and positioned adjacent a track, means on the structure for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, movable arms on a car for carrying a mail bag, a head carried by the car, a shaft, means between the shaft and the said movable arms for swinging them, other means between the shaft and the said head whereby movement of the head moves the shaft, the head being adapted for engagement with the said rail whereby the arms are swung when passing the said structure, the means on the arms engaging the bag held by the structure and the means on the structure engaging the bag carried by the arms whereby the bags are exchanged, together with another angularly extending rail for engagement with the head whereby the bag carrying arms on the car are returned to normal position after the exchange has been effected.

34L. A mail exchange system comprising a structure having movable arms thereon for holding a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag carried by a passing car, a pivoted rail connected to the said arms for moving them, movable arms on a car for carrying a mailbag, means on the arms for engaging and carrying a bag held by the said structure, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, means on the car for moving the said arms, a head carried by the car in operative relation with the arm moving means, the head being adapted for engagement with the angularly extending rail whereby the arms on the car are swung, the head being also adapted for engagement with the pivoted rail whereby the arms on the structure are swung, the means on the arms of the structure engaging the bag carried by the car and the means on the arms carried by the car engaging the bag carried by the structure whereby the bags are exchanged, together with a second angularly extending rail for engagement with the said head after the exchange has been effected whereby the arms on the car are returned to normal position.

35. A mail exchange system comprising a structure having means thereon for holding a mail bag the structure being positioned adjacent a track, resilient members on the structure for engaging and holding a mail bag carried by a passing car, a pivoted rail connected to the bag holding means for moving it, movable members on a passing car for carrying a mail bag, resilient members on the car for engaging and holding the bag held by the said structure, a rail adjacent the structure and extending angularly with respect to the track, a head carried by the car and in operative relation with the bag carrying members for moving them, the head being adapted for engagement with the angularly extending rail whereby the arms with the bag thereon are swung away from the car, the said head being also adapted for engagement with the pivoted rail whereby the bag holding means on the structure is swung, the bags being adjacent each other when the car passes the structure, the resilient members on the structure engaging the bag carried by the car and the resilient members held by the car engaging the bag carried by the structure whereby the bags are exchanged, together with a second an gularly extending rail for engagement with the said head whereby the bag carrying members on the car are returned to normal position after the exchange has been efiected.

36. A mail exchange system comprising a structure for movably holding a mail bag, a plurality of pivoted rails adjacent the structure, means for moving the mail bag in operative relation with one of the rails when engaged by suitable means on a passing car, the car moving in one direction engaging one of the rails connected to the said means and the car moving in the opposite direction engaging the other rail connected to the said means. v

37 A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned beside a track and having devices thereon for holding a mail bag, means whereby the bag holding devices may be moved, a plurality of pivoted rails adjacent the said structure, the said means for moving the bag holding devices being adapted to be connected to either rail, whereby cars passing in opposite directions may move the bag holding means through engagement with one of the pivoted rails.

38. A mail exchange system comprising a post positioned beside a track, means thereon comprising arms for holding a mail bag, a plurality of oppositely extending pivoted rails adjacent the said post and adapted to be engaged by a passing car, means connected to the said arms and adapted to be connected to either rail whereby cars passing in opposite directions may move one of the rails thereby moving the arms.

39. A mail exchange system comprising a post positioned beside a track, movable arms on the post forholding a mail bag, a rod engaging the arms, a plurality of pivoted rails adjacent the post, means engaging the rod and adapted to be connected to the free end of either rail, whereby engagement of a passing car with the rail so connected will move the arms.

40. A mail exchange system comprising a post positioned adjacent a track, movable arms on the post for holding a mail bag, a rod engaging the arms and carried by the post, a plurality of pivoted rails, means engaging the rod and adapted to be connected to the free end of either rail, together with a member carried by a passing car for engagement with either rail depending on the direction in which the car is moving, whereby the rail so connected and engaged will move the arms with the bag thereon.

41. A mail exchange system comprising a post positioned adjacent a track, movable arms on the post for holding a mail bag, a rod carried by the post and in engagement with the arms, a bar engaging the rod, a

plurality of movable rails, the said bar being adapted for engagement with either rail, the rail so engaged being adapted to be moved by engagement with a passing car whereby the bag holding arms are moved.

42. A mail exchange systemcomprising a post positioned adjacent a track, a bearing carried by the post, a rod in the bearing and movably mounted in position, arms on the rod for holding a mail bag, a bar in engagement with the rod, a plurality of movable rails adjacent the post, the said bar being adapted to be connected to either rail, the rails being adapted for engagement by cars passing in opposite directions, the rail so connected and engaged being moved whereby the bag holding arms are moved.

43. A car having a movable bar thereon, arms on the bar for holding a mail bag, a shaft, means connecting the shaft and the bar, a slidable member also carried by the whereby the bag holding arms may be moved.

44. A car having a movable bar thereon, arms on the bar for holding a mailbag, a shaft, a link connecting the shaft and the bar, a slidable member carried by the car,

means on the shaft for engagement with the slidable member, together with other means engaging the slidable member and adapted for engagement with an angularly extending rail whereby such engagement will move the bag holding arms.

45. A car having a movable bar thereon, arms on the bar for carrying a mail bag, a shaft, a link connecting the shaft and the bar, a gear on the shaft, a slidable rack adapted to engage the gear, together with a member carried by the rack and adapted for engagement with a rail whereby the shaft and link are moved, the bag carrying arms being also moved.

46. A car having a movable bar thereon, arms 011 the bar for carrying a mail bag, a shaft, a link connecting the shaft and bar, a gear on the shaft, a slidable rack for engagement with the gear, a head in engagement with the rack and movable into and out of operative position, the head being adapted for engagement with an angularly extending rail whereby the rack and shaft are moved, the bag carrying arms being also moved.

47. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned beside a track, arms on the structure for holding a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging a bag carried by a passing car, a plurality of movable rails, means for moving the bag carrying arms and adapted to be connected to either rail, movable arms on a car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engagement with a bag held by the structure, an angularly extending rail adjacent each movable rail, means on the car for moving the bag carrying arms thereon, the said means being adapted for engagement with either angularly extending rail whereby the arms on either side of the car are moved, the said means being also adapted for engagement with the movable rail connected to the bag holding arms on the said structure, which movable rail is adjacent the said angularly extending rail, whereby the arms on the said structure and car are swung, the means on the arms of the structure engaging the bag carried by the car and the means on the arms of the car engaging the bag held by the structure, whereby an exchange is efiected, the said means on the car coming into engagement with the other movable rail and the other angularly extending rail whereby the arms on the car are returned to normal position.

48. A mail exchange system comprising a structure positioned beside a track, movable arms on the structure for holding a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging a bag carried by a passing car, a plurality of movable rails adjacent the structure, means for moving the bag holding arms, the said means being adapted to be connected to either movable rail, movable arms on a passing car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging a bag held by the said structure, a plurality of angularly extending rails, the said movable rails being adjacent the angularly extending rails, the

lit

angularly extending rails extending in opposite'directions, means on the car for mov ing the bag carrying arms thereon, the said means being adapted for engagement with either angularly extending rail depending on the direction in which the car is moving, engagement'of the said means with the said rails moving the bag carrying arms, the said means being also adapted for engagement with the movable rail adjacent the engaged angularly extending rail whereby the arms on the structure are moved, the means on the arms of the structure engaging and holding the bag carried by the car and the means on the arms of the car engaging and holding the bag held by the structure whereby the bags are exchanged, the said rail engaging means then engaging the other movable rail and angularly extending rail whereby the arms on the car are returned to normal position.

49. A mail exchange system comprising a post positioned beside a track, movable arms on the post for holding a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and holding a bag carried by a-passing car, a plurality of spaced movable ralls ad acent the post, means engaging the said bag holding arms for moving them, the said means being adapted for connection to either movable rail depending on the direction in which the car is moving, movable arms on a passing car for carrying a mail bag, means on the arms for engaging and holding a mail bag held by the said post, angularly extending rails adjacent the remote ends of the said movable rails, means on the car connected to the bag carrying arms for moving them, the said means comprising a movable member adapted for engagement with either angularly extending rail depending. on the direction in which the car is moving for swinging the said bag carrying arms, the said member being also adapted for engagement with the adjacent movable rail whereby the arms on the post are swung, the means on the arms of the post engaging the bag carried by the car and the means on the arms of the car engaging the bag held by the post whereby an exchange is effected, the said rail engaging member then engaging the other movable rail and angularly extending rail whereby the bag carrying arms on the car are returned to normal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST C. RANKIN.

Witnesses:

C. B. BOLICK, J. G. SILER.

copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents. 

